Rockland man pleads not guilty to sexual assault of 3-year-old girl

ROCKLAND, Maine — A 32-year-old Rockland man accused of molesting a 3-year-old girl remains at the Knox County Jail Wednesday after entering not guilty pleas to a pair of charges on Tuesday in Knox County Superior Court.

Withee was arrested in June after the mother of a 3-year-old girl called police to report that Withee was caught in bed with the child and the child said Withee had hurt her, according to a police affidavit filed in court at the time of the arrest. The child was taken to the hospital but her physical injuries were not serious, according to police at the time.

The suspect admitted to police that he had committed the assault, according to police.

A Knox County grand jury indicted Withee in July. He made his initial appearance in Superior Court on the charge on Tuesday where he entered the not guilty pleas.

Withee had been charged in 2005 for gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact against a girl younger than 12 years old. He was acquitted during a trial in 2005.

Gross sexual assault carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

Withee has been held at the jail since his arrest, unable to raise the $10,000 cash bail.